Obituaries

Poynette, Wisconsin – WILLIAM DAVID MARTINSON “BILL”, age 87, passed away on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 with his family by his side at the George C. Forsythe Good Shepherd Hospice House in Auburndale, Florida. Bill was born on Friday, December 13th, 1935 in Madison, Wisconsin, the son of William Martinson and Mary Emma Gehin. He graduated from Oregon High School in the Class of 1953. He went to mechanic school at Gary Air Force Base in San Marcos, Texas and was stationed at Fort Rucker, AL as an Aircraft Engine Mechanic Instructor for two years. Bill married Corrine Elizabeth Alsmo on May 25, 1957. After Corrine’s death, Bill married Shirlee Ann Menigoz Schmale on February 24, 1979. Bill and his brothers owned a family second generation International Harvester Implement business in Brooklyn where he was the Service Manager with other locations in Janesville and Prairie du Sac. Bill also worked at E.F. Johnson as a radio communications salesman selling the first bag telephones. Bill was a hard worker with a curious, mechanical engineer mind. Bill was an avid hunter and fisherman and enjoyed snowmobiling with the Brooklyn Sno-Hornets. He also loved to trapshoot with the Brooklyn Sportmen’s Club, and turned a heifer shed on his Amidon Road farm into a club house for the trap club. He loved to camp, boat, fish and travel with his family in the Snaggin’ Wagon that he made with a Chrysler Imperial front and a camper on the back. Many fishing trips were made to Algoma, Wisconsin. In 1972, he caught a State Record 22 lb. 11 oz. Lake Trout on Lake Michigan. The family was featured on the 10 O’Clock News! In his retirement years, Bill and Shirlee would spend their summers on Lake Wisconsin and their winters in Florida. They made many dear friends at the South Shore Resort in Lake Wales. They later bought a home in Lake Ashton near Winter Haven. Bill is survived by his children, Martha (Eric) Grover and William D. Martinson Jr. (Chris Smith); son-in-law, Brian Ricker; Shirlee’s children, Rick (Cathy) Schmale, Kathy (Jim) Beyer, Lisa Grumann and Teri (Don) Nolden; grandchildren, Enna Doyle (fiance’ Noah Schreiber), Alyssa Grover (fiance’ Demetrios Heniadis), Craig Ricker, Travis Ricker, Kyle (Amy) Grover, Klint (Libby) Grover, Josh (Tiana) Schmale, Dan (Crystal) Schmale, Jamie (Maja) Beyer, Anna (Connor) Mickey, Sara (Alejandro) Beyer, Kelly (Will) Redenbaugh and Tegan (Jay) Grumann; and sixteen great grandchildren. He is further survived by his seven brothers, Robert (Sharon), Richard (Ardith), Kenneth (Vickie), Thomas, Timothy (LuAnn), Gary (Rebecca) and David (Chunping) and sister Mary Lou Hodel; stepsisters, Beverly and Janet; sisters-in-law, Marlene Alsmo and Amy Alsmo and brother-in-law James Alsmo; sisters-in-law Mary Janquart and Joan Paitl, Michelle Menigoz and numerous other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; stepmother, Gladys Martinson; brother, Don; sister, Patty Owen; wife, Corrine Alsmo Martinson; baby, Steven Michael; daughter, Paula Jeanne Ricker; wife, Shirlee Menigoz Martinson; brother-in-law, Paul Hodel; sisters-in-law, Linda Martinson and Carol Martinson; brothers-in-law, Joe Menigoz, Don Janquart and John Paitl; brothers-in-law, Russell Alsmo, Norman Alsmo, Alden Alsmo, Kenneth Alsmo, Curtis Ellestad and Lawrence Raedel; sisters-in-law, Margaret Ellestad-Stolen, Ruth Raedel, Dorothy Alsmo and Winnett Alsmo. Special Thanks to brother Gary, brother Bob, Sharon, Bob Jr., sister Mary Lou, brother David, all the nurses and doctors at Advent Health Hospital in Lake Wales, FL, Astoria Rehab, Winter Haven Hospital and Hospice House in Auburndale, FL for all your wonderful care for our Dad and our family. We truly appreciate all your kind efforts. Special shout-out to Al and Terry Westegard, Teri and Don Nolden, Rick and Cathy Schmale, Jim and Kathy Beyer, Curt Summers and Judy, Tim Martinson and LuAnn, and Cory Eckstein and Brenda, son-in-law Eric Grover, son-in-law Brian Ricker and Travis Ricker for all your help over the past several years so that Dad was able to stay in his house throughout his long, hard health journey. He has now Gone Fishing! The Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 24, 2023 with Pastor Laura Kolden officiating at Ryan Funeral Home, 220 Enterprise Drive, Verona, Wisconsin with visitation from 9:00-11:00 a.m. Please join us for a pizza lunch gathering at 5th Quarter Sports Bar following the service. To view and sign this guestbook, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com. Ryan Funeral Home & Cremation Services Verona Chapel 220 Enterprise Drive 608-845-6625